Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa says the 2019 Easter attacks investigation must not be diverted toward political rivalries or geopolitical agendas.
Taking to ‘X’, Rajapaksa stressed that while a fair, transparent, and impartial inquiry is essential to deliver justice to victims and their families, recent developments raise concerns about credibility and objectivity.
He noted that attempts to single out respected military officers such as Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay, who played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s fight against terrorism, while overlooking individuals cited for negligence in official reports but later rewarded with government positions, risk undermining public trust in the justice process.
“Maj. General Suresh Sallay is a respected military officer who played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s long struggle to defeat nearly three decades of terrorism. His service and contribution to national security are highly commendable.
“Over the years, however, fabricated public opinions and politically influenced narratives have been circulated attempting to link Gen. Sallay to the Easter Sunday terror attacks. At the same time, those responsible for serious lapses and failures in duty have not faced the same level of investigation. In fact, some individuals cited for negligence in official commission reports but later aligned themselves with the current government are now being rewarded with high positions, while Gen. Sallay is being singled out and dragged into an inquiry. Such a contradiction raises serious concerns and appears to be a clear case of hypocrisy, casting doubt on the credibility of the inquiry itself,” he said.
Rajapaksa further warned that politicizing the inquiry or linking it to geopolitical narratives could place Sri Lanka’s long‑standing neighbors in an uncomfortable position, especially at a time of sensitive regional developments.
“We are NOT against a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks. We strongly support a credible inquiry and firmly believe that the real conspirators behind this brutal act of terrorism must be identified and punished according to the law.
“However, the current direction of the investigation raises concerns about fairness and objectivity. When government-aligned voices attempt to shape public opinion against political rivals while steering the inquiry toward predetermined conclusions, it risks undermining public trust in the justice process.
“At a time of sensitive geopolitical developments in the region, this situation also raises concerns about whether the issue is being used in ways that could place Sri Lanka’s long-standing neighbours in an uncomfortable position. Some government figures have already made public comments suggesting the involvement of certain countries, which risks politicizing a matter that should remain purely evidence-based and judicial,” he said.
Rajapaksa emphasized that the investigation must remain evidence‑based and judicial, free from political manipulation, to ensure the real conspirators behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks are identified and punished according to the law.
“The Easter investigation must not be diverted toward political rivalries or geopolitical agendas. The government came to power promising justice for the victims and their families, but the current developments raise serious questions about whether that promise is being honoured and whether the integrity of the inquiry is being maintained,” he added. (Newswire)
